PRESS RELEASE
5th March 2013. The Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO) and the Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association (PITIA) have entered into a cooperative relationship through the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) this week.
The aim of the MOC is to coordinate the efforts of both organisations in order to promote a sustainable fisheries industry.
Under the terms and conditions of the agreement, PITIA will act as the PIPSO Working Group for Fisheries and will consult its members and regularly update PIPSO.
The Fisheries Working Group is one of five sub-groups created by PIPSO for the 5 major private sector industries in the Pacific Region. These groups consist of key stakeholders in each industry which is brought together by PIPSO to identify and resolve issues arising in the industry on a regional basis.
Both regional organisations have also agreed to exchange information on trade and investment opportunities in the fisheries industry in the Pacific Islands and to identify suitable joint ventures/trade partners for the industries development.
PIPSO’s Chief Executive Officer Mereia Volavola conveyed that this relationship makes business sense to ensure that issues pertaining to the fisheries industries in the Pacific are raised in a timely manner and that businesses in the industry are kept abreast with the latest developments. With limited resources, regional organisations can provide value for their services for their members and make that impact by joining forces and supporting each other.
“The Pacific can look forward to a dual effort for more capacity building for members in the industry and also to contribute postively to policies regarding the fisheries industry,” she said.
PITIA recognises that pulling the resources of the two organisations together will only serve to better represent and promote the interest of Pacific Fishing Industry as a whole and encourage sustainable economic development for the region.
The MOC was officiated by Mr Paula Taumoepeau, Chairman of PIPSO and Mr Charles Hufflet, Chairman of PITIA.
PIPSO will be entering into similar arrangements with other sector based regional organisations in the coming months.